People Ex Rel. Ryan v. Coles

This appeal presents the question of whether a public official who has been convicted of extortion in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1951 is eligible to hold the office of township supervisor.

In March of 1976, Ronald R. Coles was convicted of two counts of extortion in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1951, in Federal court. At the time of his conviction, Coles was supervisor of Lake Villa Township. The Lake Villa Town Board of Auditors, pursuant to section 1 of “An Act to require the payment of compensation to any officer or employee of the State of Illinois who has been reinstated in his office or employment…